New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-17
ACTORS AND THE NE " RAILWAYLA "
WHAT WILL BE ITS EFFECT ON THEMf

VIEWS OF VARIOUS MANAGERS WELL QUALIFIED TO
JUDGE.
The merits and dement's Of the Interstate Commerce
bill and the probable eecto Its enforcement upon actors
and managers have been actively canvassed In theatrical
circles during the last two three weeks There Is no
doubt law will seriously affect all theatrical
people The only question is to whether 1t will have
beneficial effect the The weight OF opinion
is unquestionaby to the latter superstition and 1t was
confidently affirmed Dy leading manager the other day
that were to remain In force for ten the methods
OF theatrical business would have to b. totally changed
and return system ofocal stock companies would
undoubtedly ensue.
OF the present uncertainty as to the exact con
sructon various clauses the act causes every one to
speak with or less hesitation But as Mt present
construed by passenger agents 1t certainly seems to
hardly upon directly end Indirectly upon
actors and actresses. A. NJ Palmer. OF the Madison
Square Theatre. in speaking about It said;
do venture to give opinion as TO the consutu
onalty Of the newaw butt am OF opinion that some
thing this needed and am heartily glad TO
see the deadnead system swept away am sure every
manager OF theatre will agree with In this II he
only his mind that he need not now oher free
tickets every railway official or agent who may chance
to apply for them This OF Is mere minor point.
The bill 1t stands. or at least as 1t Is construed by
passenger agents. presses very hardly upon the heatr
cal profession. 1t docs TO me that some special
provision should have been made for class TO whom
travelling Is really means OF livelihood and who In the
Just pursuit Of their profession forced 70 travel tho u
sands miles In the OF few months-people too
who do travel Individually but In groups OF from
twenty to hundred people On the principle even by
which q wholesale merchant can buy cheaper than the
individual consumer the wholesale traveller should,
think, have certain privileges granted him. From one
point of view still maintain as did when the question
viii in the long run benefit by It, Tho weaker compa
will be crowded out and the stronger ones Will reap
In factf doctr iueO of he
fttest will be well exemphcd. IL may seem cruel TO
say this but II 10 none the less fact"
Theodore Moss who spoke for Mr. wallack said: "The
act really affects personally not one whit have,
however regarded with great interest affecting the
profession generally think its enactment will work
great deal Of mischief regards actors and actresses
Many Of them will doubtless be thrown out OF EN-
poyment altogether and the salaries Of Others will he
seriously reduced. Our company, You know. never
extent and when IL does leave town
1t plays within short distances OF New YORK IT. as has
suggested 1T T will hs Be eras ony 10 be
kind. and from this point OF view T De easre
not an not competent TO Judge"
William r. Hayden, Who as Miss Dauvray's manager,
and as the manager times gone by Of many important
companies and attractions has wide experience Of all
that Affects travelling manager s Outspoken In his de-
nunclaton of the bill In the first place." said he.
think the bill is entirely In the Interest OF the large rail-
way corporations and not In the true interest Of the
travelling companies the hand or OF the smaller
railway companies on the other But to Its effect
the theatrical profession entertain doubt whatever
1t will throw least thousand actors out Of employ
ment will reduce seriously the salaries OF all others
and IL will give audiences outside OF New-York worse
instead OF better attractions How will this be
will explain to you In very few words. Managers OF
organizations will not be able upon any increase
of receipts while their expenses Will be
largely increased. They will not be able
10 get better terms from the local managers,
and must in some way protect themselves from bearing
the whole OF their increased burden This they can only
by diminishing number OF their company and by
hiring cheaper and therefore actors and actresses
They also bring their baggage to Its lowest
possible mitand they VIII therefore economic by carry
Ing less scenery and that OF not such an elaborate or
artistic description You can easily see then that the
public Will be tho losers they will pay the same money
Tor article whose quality has een very much lowered
IN s Of s
profession during the coming season and my partners
several travelling companies twill cost between 500
and $500 week moro TO take out these companies than
this loss and must make il up by decreasing
In every direction OF the various organizations"
Charles Frohman, who has also had much experience
with travelling companies. said 81 take different
view from most the effect OF the new act do
not think 1t will crowd out the weak companies by
meanA IL will rather tend to help them at the expense
Of the better stronger attractionA Ths is the way
look It. The larger companies take longer jumps be-
tween each stand, call the cities In which they
play and carry much baggage than the smaller com
panies They also rule carry with them a large
amount OF scenery. Thus railway fares and freight
charges enter mucn into the consideration
OF the manager OF strong company than
of q weak one. The latter has only
few people deal with. and his Jumps are shorter aud
less expensive He carries no baggage or scenery 10
sneak Of tho percentage OF increased fare VIII be
indniteiy less In his that OF his legit
mate brother think. the reore that the new law VIII
work directly the detrment of the profession In every
mint VII will the cheap
The cheap theatre 1t will provide the cheap actor with
employment and those who VIII suffer wiz be IN every
case The producers better OF entertainments